Remember: our rules allow pointed disagreement, but require respectful discussion. -- I feel there has been far too much political point-scoring and not enough genuine discussion on this forum lately. To the extent that I have participated in that, I'm chagrined. So I want to try again. I want to give my frequent antagonist, Michael Atherton, his due. Of course there is a role for the city council to play in dealing with and perhaps on some level preventing terrorism. I applaud him for giving the issue its local due. While I believe other units of government have more major roles, there is a place for council initiative, and it's fair to ask candidates what, if anything they would do. I also think Michael was right, and I was wrong, to add schools to a council member's list of issues. There is some role council members can play in issues that are not a council member's primary responsibility. Michael mentioned sewers mockingly, but I guess it does kind of illustrate the frustration that led me to initially respond harshly. In political science class, I was taught to evaluate candidates based on things they had direct responsibility for. I still think that's a good template. I also believe our council will function better as a board of directors and less as micromanagers. That's why I think Paul's, or Cam's job is to hire a good police and fire chief, review their work on occasion, and remove them if necessary - but I fear expecting them to promise certain narrow policies. However, there are major policies - such as handling protestors or even maybe helicopter rescues - that a council person should look closely at. However, I will make my own decision based what the city council can directly control: its own taxing and spending (especially on public works like roads and sewers), central-city redevelopment, police and fire staffing, and how elected officials allows Minneapolis citizen input to shape council and council member decision making. (There are more, of course, but this is a partial list.) I distrust candidates who talk about how they will bring larger government units to heel, and I really distrust candidates who take positions on "big" issues where they ultimately have pop-gun power. However, I think I under-rated the reasonable expectation that a council member should have some thoughts on dealing with disasters that - at least last week - became more thinkable in this country. Many members have emailed me in recent weeks lamenting the general decline in discussion and corresponding rise in attacks and bitterness. While their concern was general, it's tough to look in the mirror and decide you're part of the problem while at the same time trying to affect a solution. I will try, yet again, to count to 10 and think twice about what someone I disagree with is writing. I will try not to jump to the worst conclusions about their motives. Even amid disagreement, I will try to discuss, not bludgeon. I hope others will join me. David Brauer King Field - Ward 10 _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
